Inhaled nitric-oxide releasing prodrug to fight drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections
Official title: Inhaled Nitric-Oxide Releasing Prodrug to Treat Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections
Funded at Vast Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11315700 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new inhaled medicine aims to deliver nitric oxide directly to the lungs to help treat tough, drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vast Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morrisville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AI191890-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11315700 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia or lung infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially drug-resistant strains.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without lung infections or those unlikely to respond to NO-based therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a novel nitric oxide–releasing prodrug that can be inhaled to deliver sustained NO at the site of lung infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. The goal is to determine whether the nebulized formulation improves bacterial clearance and reduces illness in preclinical models, with an emphasis on its use against multidrug-resistant strains. The work combines laboratory studies and animal experiments to evaluate safety, delivery, and antibacterial effectiveness. If successful, this approach could provide a new option for patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia due to resistant bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If proven safe and effective, the inhaled NO prodrug could become a new treatment option for patients with drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown NO can help fight bacteria and that inhaled NO therapies can deliver prolonged exposure to the lungs in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Vast Therapeutics, INC.
Morrisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stasko, Nathan Allan — Vast Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Stasko, Nathan Allan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.